Page 48 of Awakening

“See you tomorrow, Ethan,” Chloe says as she walks to the door to go inside.

Thinking over the information Olivia gave me about Moretti’s family, I dial my head of security, Lance, as soon as I get to my car.

“Hello, Alpha,” he answers.

“Hey, Lance. I need your help with something.”

“Of course. Just name it.”

Olivia

“Hey,” I say as Chloe walks in the door. “I’m sorry your night with Nick was cut short.”

“That’s okay,” she says, sitting down on a kitchen bar stool, “but what the hell happened? Ethan said Anthony did something.”

“Oh, yeah,” I say, taking a sip of wine, and then I pour a glass for Chloe.

“Care to share?”

“It’s a little embarrassing, Chloe.”

“Oh, please. We’ve told each other everything from the moment we met. Why stop now?” she asks with a laugh.

“Well, Ethan and I had moved into the bedroom.”

“Uh huh,” Chloe says with a smile as she leans in.

“We didn’t sleep together,” I say, “but I guess I was being a little loud, and then all of the sudden Anthony is yelling and pounding on the apartment door, demanding to be let inside.”

“What?” Chloe yells. “Ew, what a creeper. Was he outside listening or something?”

Laughing, I shake my head. “I don’t think so, but his guards obviously were, and I guess they told him they heard cries of distress,” I say, laughing again.

“Oh, lord. Cries of distress, my ass. They knew what they were hearing,” Chloe says.

“Which doesn’t make it any less embarrassing, I might add.”

“Anthony should be the embarrassed one,” Chloe says. “That’s so lame, Liv. You see what he was doing, right?”

“I know. I’m going to need to have a conversation with him about boundaries.”

“Anthony wants you back, Liv. You see that, right?”

“I don’t know. He’s been a good friend, Chloe. Like I’ve said, I’m so grateful to him for helping me when I got out of the hospital and with this apartment, so I’m trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. Any lingering feelings he may have aside, I know he genuinely cares about me. And, I mean, technically he hasn’t crossed any lines.”

“I think you’re being a little naïve where he’s concerned, if I’m being honest. But, in happier news, I hear you’re going home for a visit tomorrow?” Chloe says, taking a drink of her wine.

I nod with a smile. “I am, and I’m actually looking forward to it.”

“That’s amazing, Liv. I love it,” she says. “So, you guys got a little physical tonight, and you’re going home for a while tomorrow. You must be feeling good about things with Ethan?”

Goosebumps rush over my body when I think about what happened between us tonight. “Things with Ethan definitely feel…good.”

Twelve

Olivia

Ididn’t have an opportunity to speak with Anthony this morning due to his early shift at the hospital, but I’m sure he’s been well-informed of my plans for this afternoon. While I appreciate his friendship more than I can say, I have to make it clear to him there are boundaries that I expect him to respect.

---